Final: Maple Leaf 3, Bruins 2 (OT)

TORONTO -- The Toronto Maple Leafs finished with a 3-2 victory in overtime against the Boston Bruins in the annual Hall of Fame Game Friday night at Air Canada Centre.

Toronto pulled the goalie for the extra attacker, caught the Bruins on a long shift and posted the game-tying goal with one minute remaining in regulation before winning in OT.

The seven 2017 inductees will be honored prior to the game, including Bruins owner Jeremey Jacobs and former player Mark Recchi. They received their Hall of Fame rings this afternoon in a ceremony at the Great Hall.



This is the first time this season the Bruins visited the ACC. Boston has a 2-3-1 road record. It was the Bruins' fourth of five games in eight days. Brad Marchand and Noel Acciari returned to the lineup. Anton Khudobin started and posted 30 saves in regulation.

Observations from third period

I repeat: A power-play goal would be huge for the Bruins.

David Pastrnak's power-play goal gives the Bruins a 2-1 lead with 5:30 remaining. That goal was all Jordan Szwarz. His relentless effort in front helped create that opportunity. He's been good all game.

Acciari goes to the net hard and draws a penalty. Huge play by him with the game tied with 7:29 remaining in regulation.

A power-play goal would be huge for the Bruins.

I've said this before but Khudobin is fun to watch no matter the outcome.

Chara's having a better period.

Observations from second period

The Maple Leafs capitalize and tie the game at 1-1 with 15.3 seconds remaining in the period on the power play.

If the Bruins lose this game it will be because of penalties.

Patrice Bergeron's one-timer from the right circle beats Frederik Andersen to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead at 15:38. Marchand and Torey Krug assisted on the tally, but it was Jake DeBrusk who earlier in the shift was able to get the puck deep before changing that led to the goal.

Marchand has deceptive seperation speed.

That's two tough penalties for Brandon Carlo this period.

Recchi made a living scoring better than 90 percent of his goals from right in front of the net. He said a player has to be willing to go there and be ready to take a beating. Rookie Jake DeBrusk has the ability to do that and when he does it usually creates opportunities. Once he gets a little stronger he could have huge success in this area.

McAvoy must've read this between periods because he registers his first shot on net. It created a rebound, which is exactly what the Bruins want and need.

Riley Nash is stronger on the puck than one might think.

Observations from first period

Charlie McAvoy did not register a shot in the first. He needs to generate more offensively, which has been a talking point with him and Bruce Cassidy of late.

Shows how much faith Cassidy has in the line of Tim Schaller, Nash and Acciari since that trio is on the ice in the final period of a scoreless game.

Too many turnovers by both teams.

The line of Matt Beleskey, Sean Kuraly and Jake DeBrusk is creating chances.

Acciari effective on his first few shifts.

Zdeno Chara fighting the puck early tonight. Now he's going to the box for delay-of-game penalty for shooting the puck in the stands.

Big save for Khudobin on Nazem Kadri at 5:24. Huge quality chance for Maple Leafs.

Impressive pregame ceremony to honor the 2017 HOF class. First time I've seen teams allowed a three-minute skate in order to warm up after a long ceremony.

Here are videos of Recchi and Jacobs receiving their rings.



Untitled from Boston Sports Journal on Vimeo.

 



Untitled from Boston Sports Journal on Vimeo.

Here's the projected line combinations and defensive pairings vs. the Maple Leafs:

Forwards

Marchand-Bergeron-Pastrnak

Heinen-Szwarz-Bjork

Schaller-Nash-Acciari

Beleskey-Kuraly-DeBrusk

Defense

Chara-McAvoy

Krug-Carlo

Postma-Miller

Goalies 

Khudobin

Rask